#3/2019
NEWS FROM THE WORLD’S LEADING MANUFACTURER OF TIMBER BUNKS AND AUTO-TENSIONERS
LEAD E R
We’re ready for good years ahead! Training for welders “It’s interesting and rewarding. We’re learning a lot and are very excited about it all.”
“We’ve been at maximum output for most of the year.”
Own test rigs and certificates guarantee safe cargo securing. “When it comes to safe cargo securing, false promises must never be made.”
A bunk is a bunk “A look back at how things were 60 years ago.”
ExTe Magazine| 1
LE A D E R
We’re ready for good years ahead. The economic boom of 2018–2019 was unique. We’ve not seen anything like it in recent decades. And in our industry, we see this same pattern repeating throughout the world. The high demand for timber has sparked and equally enormous need for transport. Transportation of timber requires safe cargo securing in the form of timber bunks and tensioners. Our point of departure is from an already strong position in most global markets and explosive demand for our products. And by that, I mean throughout the entire world.
“ExTe has been at maximum output for most of the year. To cope with the situation, we’ve drawn upon all of our creative resources and logistical abilities. Despite that, we’ve struggled in meeting the delivery times for some of our customers. Given the circumstances, perhaps that is to be expected. Our suppliers are coping with the same heavy demand triggered by the booming economy. They, too, have periodically had problems delivering raw materials to us on time. Economic prosperity is what we all want and strive for, certainly. For ExTe, it has meant that an everincreasing number of hauliers across the world have discovered our products. Our dedication to safety, design and above all, the functionality of our products are important factors for hauliers. Based on the developments of recent years and signals from our dealers across the world, we’ve decided to increase our long-term production capacity. During the autumn, an investment initiative of multimillions got underway and it will continue through 2 | ExTe Magazine
2021. It will involve everything from upgrades and renovations to additional robotic facilities. Perhaps some might raise an eyebrow and mention concerns of a pending downturn. And should that be the case, we’ve anyway made the right move. We’re simply preparing for the next boom, which is certain to come. For the moment though, let’s take a break from concerns over fluctuations in the economy. The Christmas season and New Year have arrived and I sincerely hope that each one of our customers, dealers, suppliers, installers and other partners have a joyful holiday with loved ones. To all of our amazing employees at ExTe, I sincerely thank you for the tremendous job you’ve done and all of your efforts, each and every day.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Kjell Jonsson CEO of ExTe
Own test rigs and certificates guarantee safe cargo securing. We’ve developed a routine for our safety efforts and it applies to everything from the initial order to the issued certificates. The test procedures vary, based on whether the products will be used for road or rail transport,” explains Roger Larsson, Head of ExTe’s Development Department. “The purpose of the test routines is to ensure that our products meet the requirements for safe cargo securing. When customers have not specified their own guidelines, ours will apply. The guidelines are based on comprehensive, established regulations and certification requirements,” he says. “We conduct our own load, tension and endurance tests, along with tests on how and where to apply the force e.g. tensioners and hoops,” says Roger. “We also have service agreements in place with regulatory bodies, who periodically check our test instruments. Furthermore, we perform our own checks of equipment on a quarterly basis,” he says. ExTe has an appointed operator at the company with the specific task of carrying out these checks in accordance with established routines.
When it comes to safe cargo securing, false promises must never be made. For this, we truly stand behind our word and ExTe has been developing methods for testing our products for many years. We are currently one of the few manufacturers of timber bunks in the world with our own test rigs and certificates.
“I’m quite certain that our thorough documentation and traceability of the tests makes us unique when it comes to cargo securing for timber transports.” Once the product has been put through the testing procedure and obtained approval, ExTe will then issue a certificate guaranteeing that the product meets the requirements on the limits that apply. There is also backward traceability on all of the test results upon which the certificate was based, which external auditors may require evidence of, for various reasons. “I’m quite certain that our thorough documentation and traceability of the tests makes us unique when it comes to cargo securing for timber transports,” says Roger Larsson. ExTe Magazine| 3
30% higher ExTe is investing in the next economic upswing. ExTe’s very strong position both at home and in the global markets is quite evident at the company’s factory in Färila. The high demand for timber bunks and tensioners has led to a rise in production volume for the year of a full 30%. The demand has been high and we’ve been at maximum capacity all autumn,” explains Site Manager, Lina Bylund. “Yes, we’re seeing signs that it is tapering off, but right now, we’re still in the process of producing what’s already been ordered for next year,” she says. Part of ExTe’s manufacturing is done using welding robots. In order be prepared for the next economic upswing, ExTe has embarked on a multimillion investment initiative. “Our first step has been to install a new robotic welding facility, which itself is an investment of 4 | ExTe Magazine
several million,” she says. The entire initiative, including investment in one additional robotic welding facility will be completed during 2021. “We already have one factory for welding the timber bunk frames. It has been running on four shifts,” says Magnus Johansen, Production Manager at ExTe. The new facility is equipped with pairs of welding robots and the production capacity is nearly double.
“The new facility is equipped with pairs of welding robots and the production capacity is nearly double.” “The new factory is also more flexible because it is adjustable and we can weld frames of different sizes,” he says. During the autumn, training was held for the operators who will be running the new facility.
TR A I N I N G FOR W E LDE R S
A boost for us and the company. “It’s exciting and extremely educational,” say those in training to become robotic welding operators at ExTe. “At first, it all felt quite challenging and difficult. These robots are more complicated than the others that we are accustomed to. But we’re learning a bit more each day and feel increasingly confident with this task. We’re learning to think smarter.” “The robotic station should be self-correcting. To achieve that however, you need to know a lot of codes and commands. It’s a lot of fun though! There is a mix of theory and practice. We’ve already done some clever programming too... and it works! We’re learning a lot and are very excited about it all,” they explain. Robin Jonsson, Simon Larsson, Isak Karlsson, Mikael Jonsson and Emil Löfgren all work as robotic machine operators at ExTe. Except for Mikael, who has been at it for 14 years, the others have at most been on the job for just three years. Up until now, they’ve been working with the welding robots that ExTe already has in place. They’ve just completed the first part of training to operate the company’s new robotic welding station. “This is no ordinary robotic station,” explains Rasmus Vennerstrand. He represents the supplier, Andon Robotics and is in charge of the training. “I’ve providing group training in what we call robot cells. One cell, consists of two robots. The two robots are able collaborate, working together on the same component. It means that the job can be done twice as fast. But they can also work independently,” he says. “It broad terms, the training is designed to teach the operators programming skills so that they can optimize the process, thereby making the robots as automated as possible,” explains Rasmus. The course participants will be given additional training in Robot Studio early next year. The first training component focuses on gaining an understanding of the logistics on how the robotic station works. They learn which steps are most
From left: Mikael Jonsson, Isak Karlsson, Robin Jonsson, Emil Löfgren, Simon Larsson.
important in terms of monitoring and safety. During Robot Studio training, course participants sit at a computer that controls the robot cell. The “studio” in which they work can be located in an entirely separate, quieter part of the factory. Once the training has been completed, the operators will work in pairs, over two shifts. Mikael Jonsson has extensive experience of the program structure and he will initially serve as mentor for the group. “This is a real boost for both us and the company. Quality will be higher and more even. We can increase our rate of production, with quicker, safer deliveries,” they say. ExTe Magazine| 5
olts for b s: s n io ct erie instru and S s g in D n , e Tight p in the A s la c in Nm 200
Tips f Technrom Supp ical ort
Regular service and maintenance is crucial.
Tightening wedges If you have new bunks or stanchions, it’s very important that you tighten the bolts after a few loads. The same applies if you have replaced a stanchion or fitted/dismantled something. Tighten them hard! If they aren’t tight, there could be vibrations or wear and tear that could result in costly reparations. Check the friction mounts. Do you have sliding bunks with friction mounts? Check that the bottom bracket is correctly pretensioned. As and when the sliding plastic wears, the bottom bracket will need to be adjusted. Wiggle the bunk to detect any gaps. If necessary, tighten the bottom nuts.
“We want your bunks and stanchions to last a long time. So we remind you again. Tighten them hard.” 6 | ExTe Magazine
Bright prospects despite coming recession.
Kroghs Åkeri has four sole-purpose timber rigs. Each is equipped ExTe bunks.
The Hilmer Andersson sawmill is currently the largest privately owned sawmill in Värmland. It produces around 200,000 m3 of sawed timber per year. “We drive for them, via VSV Frakt,” explains Nils Ivar Krogh at Kroghs Åkeri in Skillingsfors. “For the last couple of years, the demand for our transport services has been extremely high. It’s tough keeping up with the pace of it, but at the same time, we’re thankful to have a steady stream of work. Even though all signs indicate an economic downturn, the future still looks bright,” he says.
“We’ve used this solution for years and it has always worked really well for us. ExTe has excellent products and we have a great relationship with them.” Kroghs Åkeri was established in 1998. It has four sole-purpose timber rigs and two rigs that can transport both gravel and timber. Gravel operations are run through Västvärmland LBC. The combination rigs have two modules, one for gravel and one for timber.
The timber module has a mounted crane. Switching between gravel and timber is done very quickly and Nils Ivar only equips his rigs with ExTe bunks, both A6 and A9. All trailers have six bunks (four A9 and two A6). “We’ve used this solution for years and it has always worked really well for us. ExTe has excellent products and we have a great relationship with them. We work quite a bit with Jenny in Färila and we also purchase spare parts from OP Höglunds in Säffle,” he says. The haulage company also has excavators, harvesters and forwarders. “I primarily drive timber trucks, but I operate the other machines when needed. We have a dozen or so employees, including my daughter Linn who drives timber trucks. Her partner, Marit, works with administration,” he says. “Our sales are around 16-17 million per year, so we’re doing alright,” says Nils Ivar. He doesn’t have much time off, but when he does, one of his favourite activities is moose hunting with dogs. ExTe Magazine| 7
Linn primarily drives gravel trucks but sometimes drives the timber trucks when needed. She is pictured here, together with her father, Nils Ivar.
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It’s the world’s best job!
“Most of my girlfriends drive trucks.”
Linn Krogh is 23 years old and if you ask her, she’s got the world’s best job. “I grew up in family of hauliers and often accompanied my dad out on the road when I was little. I’ve always been interested in trucks and engines. So, in the ninth grade, when it was time to choose a high school, the vocational programme at Södra Viken to become a truck driver was my first choice. After year three, I started driving extra for my dad,” explains Linn. “I primarily drive gravel trucks, but I sometimes drive the timber trucks when needed. It’s so much fun! It took a while getting used to such a long rig, but that’s how it is for all beginners. You learn with time and I love to challenge myself,” she says. “The job has a lot of variation. One day is never quite like the next. I tend to drive around with a big grin on my face, particularly when I’m out driving in the forest. The peacefulness of the surroundings makes me happy. Driving a gravel truck is more stressful,” says Linn. “Most of my girlfriends drive trucks. It’s not your typical 8-hour job, but an upside is all the freedom
you have. Although we have schedules to follow, something unexpected is always happening and you need to think on your feet,” says Linn. “If you’re looking for an exciting job with more freedom and less monotony, I’d highly recommend it as a career choice for both guys and girls,” says Linn. Linn describes herself as an adventurous person. “I want to explore the world. Last autumn, I spent a few weeks in Brazil and during the spring, I backpacked through South America with a couple of friends. The most exciting thing I’ve done was bicycling North Yungas Road (also known as Death Road) in Bolivia. It’s narrow, steep and there are no guardrails, so it feels like the road is hanging out over a cliff,” says Linn. “I had planned to attend college in Los Angeles during autumn 2017. As part of that, I made a trip over to Las Vegas and was in the same area where a mass shooting occurred. It really frightened me and I decided to return home to the peace and calm of Värmland,” says Linn. ExTe Magazine| 9
A
S ERIES
How important is profitability to you?
10 | ExTe Magazine
D
S ERIES The obvious answer is, not only is it important, but crucial to an organisation’s longterm survival and success.
S
S ERIES
Contact
one of our sales representatives to discuss which bunks best meet your needs. They will suggest which combinations of bunks are most profitable for you. Phone: +46 (0)651-17 500 or Email: sales@exte.se
ExTe’s wide selection of bunks and smart accessories provide you with opportunities. But only you can impact your own profitability and one way of doing that is through your choice of bunks. We suggest that you consider more than just the purchase price when investing in new bunks. It, is your depreciable amount. Profitability and revenue are closely intertwined. Every extra unit can trickle down to the bottom line. Accordingly, your choice of bunks is important because it is fundamental to the amount of revenue you can generate. When selecting bunks, two main factors must be considered. Perhaps you drive long distances with few loads per year. Or, the opposite may be true and you drive short distances with many loads per year. If you drive long distances, your limitations are either going to be volume or weight. For long distances, where weight is the limiting factor, you should choose bunks that provide you with the lowest possible tare, which are ExTe’s A-bunks. They offer a larger percentage of timber as the total weight, which increases the income from each load. That, means higher profitability. And, if you choose the right combinations of A-bunks, you can significantly increase your annual revenue. On long distances where volume is the limiting factor, you should select bunks offering the largest possible volume, which are those in ExTe’s S-series. They have maximum interior size and stanchion length. They offer a larger percentage of timber as the total weight, which increases the revenue from each load. That, translates into higher profitability. If you drive short distances and many loads, as in 9-10 per day, you should have bunks that are robust in comparison to the weight and price. For that, ExTe’s D-bunks are the right choice for you.
ExTe Magazine| 11
After a few pairs of drumsticks and time, however, his path eventually led him to Termos.
Patrik Pettersson, with his “now famous� thermos.
12 | ExTe Magazine
Having a nice looking tractor was important to Patrik when he started up the company.
“After I finished grade 9, I wanted to pursue the music programme in high school. I wanted to be a drummer,” says Patrik Pettersson with a laugh. “But, I didn’t have good enough grades. Then, after a visit to Höglunds, I decided to apply to the truck driver vocational programme. Perhaps it was all just luck. Who knows. I’m pretty sure that I’m a better timber haulier than what I ever would have been as a drummer though,” says Patrik with a smile. Patrik is currently 30 years old. He lives in Bengtfors with his wife and two daughters, four and two years old. After 11 years as a driver, he decided at the end of last year to start his own company. “It was a big step, but I felt confident after having crunched the numbers a few times,” he says. “I invested in a used tractor and slightly older trailer. Most important of all was that everything worked. The vehicle was still quite new, which meant that I could sign a green service and repairs agreement,” explains Patrik. “Sure, it costs a bit more each month, but it gives me a sense of security in case anything were to happen,” he says. The rig has four bunks on the cab and six on the trailer. “There were already ExTe bunks installed on both. A6 on the cab and A9 on the trailer, which I was very happy about. I was close to OP Höglunds in case I needed any spare parts. They always have what you need in inventory. And, ExTe has a great reputation when it comes to customer service and returning any defective items. There are never any hassles. I also value that ExTe employees are very friendly and good at creating strong ties,” says Patrik. “I drive for Moelven Skog via VSV. The average transport distance is 80-100 kilometre and on average, we can handle three loads per shift. We also drive 2.45 metre long
loads to the VIDA sawmill in Nössemark,” he says. In August, Patrik employed a driver and since then, he’s been running two shifts. That’s essentially the history of Termos thus far. “I arrived one night at the timber dock of a sawmill. There, I encountered a rig and its driver, who was very much longing for a cup of coffee. Of course, I shared what I had and luckily, my thermos had two mugs. He thought that was very cool and started calling me Thermos (Termosen, in Swedish). It stuck, becoming my nickname and part of my reputation. So, when I chose a name and registered my company, it just seemed obvious to call it Termos. That’s how Termos Åkeri AB got its name,” explains Patrik. “I have a positive attitude about most things and am perceived as a happy, easy going person by most. That alone will take you quite far. I can be a bit stubborn sometimes though. My wife will attest to that!” he says, again with a laugh. “People working in this industry are cut from a special cloth. We have tight bonds and look after each other. We don’t regard each other as competitors. It’s an environment and culture that suits me perfectly,” says Patrik. One might question whether starting up a new company in sync with an economic slowdown was a good decision. “I feel very secure with the investments I’ve made. They’re at a reasonable level and the costs are completely manageable. I’m not stingy, but I am economical. I do as much of the ongoing maintenance as I can myself,” he says. I’m also comfortable with the multi-year contract I have on transports,” he says. Besides having just started up a new company, Patrik also purchased a small piece of forest property a while ago. “It is 26 hectares of productive forest land. Just the right size for managing it myself. Going at it with a chainsaw is for me, relaxing,” he says. ExTe Magazine| 13
The 2019 ExTe Cup – an historic bandy celebration The celebration took place in Ljusdal in the middle of October. It was the bandy party that everyone was looking forward to. There were teams there from Sweden, Russia, Finland and Norway. Which is how it usually is! But this year, there was a bit more on the menu. Even the Somalian national bandy team! They were there too! They didn’t participate in the tournament but did play in a very entertaining exhibition match against a team from ExTe/Trux. It went back and forth, but eventually ExTe/Trux came out of it victorious. And this year, the Russian team once again took home the trophy. In an exciting final match between AIK and Vodnik, the Russians came out on top. They were worthy winners, who, this year, got to raise the newly designed trophy, Vandringspriset, high above their heads in victory.
14 | ExTe Magazine
Bandy Challenge Björn Swartswe is a bandy legend and the man behind the notion of playing bandy, day and night. When Björn turned 80, a bandy challenge was created in his name. The trophy for it was designed by artist Charlie Granberg and it symbolizes the deep roots that bandy has here in the village, along with its link to ExTe as main sponsor. On the trophy, ExTe’s bunks are what’s lifting the ball. And in this year’s ExTe Cup, the match was between legends from Ljusdals BK and Bollnäs GIF. It was an impressive display of skill and technique at the very highest level. And who won? Well, we think it was the game itself...and the crowd!
Many interested in visiting ExTe “Soon, people will need to start taking numbers and getting in line,” says Site Manager Lina Bylund with a chuckle.
A group of forest owners from Mellanskog got to take a look at the production facility and how ExTe works with safety issues.
“We have a constant flow of visitors from all over the world, in fact. Primarily, our visitors are from Sweden and they frequently bring their drivers along. We’re proud and happy that so many people are interested in making a trip to see us. All you need to do to set it up is give us a call,” she says. “During the first two weeks in November we had international visitors here from Norway, New Zealand and Germany. Mellanskog was also here with a large group of forest owners. They got to see the entire production process and many reacted positively to the great work environment that we’ve created here. They obtained an understanding of how we work with safety issues and how important our product testing is for ensuring quality. There was also much interest in our company history, since many have their own memories and connections with ExTe. Of course, we proudly displayed our wide range of products too, including the new ultra-light A bunks and we spoke about what lies ahead in the future. Everyone thought it was quite fun and interesting. They all left with smiles on their faces,” says Lina. ExTe Magazine| 15
Trade show in Spain Near Valladolid, the largest city in northwestern Spain, a trade show for the biomass industry was held and one of ExTe’s dealers, Alfonso Prieto, participated. ExTe has an excellent reputation in Spain and Portugal. Alfonso Prieto attended the trade show and invited some of his customers as well. In the photo to the right, some of the visitors get a presentation of ExTe’s flexible range of products adapted to the Spanish and Portuguese market.
ExTe collaborates with Deutsche Bahn The entire decade of the 1980s was a busy time for ExTe. Bunks and stanchions for both road and rail transport were being developed at a rapid pace. For example, the classic Maxi Stanchion was designed during this time. A major deal with SJ (Swedish State Railways) in 1987 opened doors for other railway operators. Over the years, ExTe has delivered tens of thousands of Maxi Stanchions, Wood and SR bunks to the Scandinavian, German and British railways. Early in November, representatives from the German railway company, DB, visited ExTe. DB always conducts quality inspections on the products to be delivered. The company wants to have complete information and full transparency on which raw materials are used, the suppliers and welding processes. Both sides were satisfied with the results from those inspections.
Impressive rigs in Brazil Olle Melin is ExTe’s representative in Brazil. He recently held a presentation for employees from a large pulp and paper company. They discussed experiences from the Hexa Trem project. Hexa Trem means “six stacks”. On a truly impressive rig, 52 metres long, ExTe’s B2 bunks rest on the air-operated TU tensioners. The bunks are manufactured by license in Brazil. The total weight of the rig is 160 tonnes, of which 110-112 tonnes timber, which is equivalent to around 140 m3. “Much focus right now is on increasing the load weights and there’s talk of rolling roads that can take loads from 90 to 140 tonnes. To handle that, roads and tunnels dedicated for this specific purpose are being constructed, separate from other roads and railways. Right now though, load weights are typically around 74 tonnes,” says Olle Melin. 16 | ExTe Magazine
Two brothers and in all likelihood, future timber hauliers. Together with their father, they’ve built a miniature Scania truck! Very impressive indeed. And it certainly attracted a lot of attention!
Yet another fun and successful trucking festival in Ramsele. No doubt about it, the trucking festival in Ramsele attracts drivers from all industries, and many others too! There were more than 300 rigs there and over 5,000 visitors. As always, the most gorgeous rigs were on display. They competed for the prestigious trophy, Nordpokalen. ExTe was of course there, too, sharing a stand with its sister company, Trux. “The trucking festival is a very special event. Everyone comes with a great attitude. It’s all so friendly and fun,” says ExTe’s Jenny Eklund. “The trucking festival is open to rigs from all sectors of industry. As such, timber trucks are in the minority. It makes us very proud to see that most of them, however, were fitted with our timber bunks,” says Jenny. One important part of the event is always the discussions that take place on what fleets of the future will look like. Right now, they circle very much around the topic of electrification.
BSR Transport AB, Lima, had its new rig on display at ExTe’s stand. It’s a truly gorgeous machine, fitted with ExTe’s A10 bunks. Finish and design, down to the tiniest detail.
Höök Persson Transport AB, Filipstad had invested in ExTe’s very latest and ultra-light A7 bunks.
Another eye-catching rig was from Bert Olsson & Söner Åkeri AB in Altuna. It too, was equipped with ExTe bunks. Mäkelä is a large Finnish haulage company and it only uses ExTe’s bunks.
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A bunk is a bunk But they’re completely different to what was offered 60 years ago.
Current timber bunks, and even rigs for that matter, haven’t changed much in the last 100 years. Sure, developments and improvements have been made. But the basic design is the same. For the last two years, ExTe has been operating at essentially max capacity. In a situation like that, it isn’t easy to envision new possibilities or act as a future-seeking visionary. Nevertheless, ExTe’s success has been based on just that: the company’s ability to think in new ways. 18 | ExTe Magazine
So with that in mind, let’s take a little walk down memory lane. The very first timber bunks left much to be desired. During the unloading process, the bunks were operated from the same side from which the logs were dumped. It was a dangerous operation, which was soon prohibited through legislation. In the 1950s, requirements on load carriers became more stringent, not least from a safety perspective. Even though, decades earlier, ExTe had already developed a timber bunk, many were still driving beds equipped with rudimentary structures for holding things in place. Now, though, there were finally requirements on having robust frames and stanchions. The new bunk was launched with a slogan of: “Biggest load, biggest safety!” From this point on, safety became the guiding star for all of ExTe’s future product development. Bunk solutions became an enormous success. In the 1960s, the first version of the ExTe bunk was released. A new bunk was developed, radically improving safety via a solution whereby the stanchions were released from the opposite to where the logs rolled off. It was a bunk designed with a locking mechanism based on the principle of eccentricity and telescopic stanchions with bayonet locks. In 1965, yet another bunk was developed with the name ExTe bunk. At the time, competition in the country was tough and the market was limited. But, with the launch of the ExTe bunk, the rate of expansion really took off. Log floating practices were rapidly ending, with an ever increasing amount of timber being transported to saw and paper mills by truck. The demand for timber bunks increased in sync with all of this. A large order was received from SCA, which had many of its own trucks. This opened up a new market where ExTe hadn’t previously been represented. The demand for ExTe bunks increased significantly. In 1966, the company was in need of larger premises, so it moved to the newly constructed Industrihuset in Färila.
The ExTe bunk was further developed into ExTe 54, then, later redesigned again into ExTe 10. With this solution, there was still a top chain between the stanchions and the logs rolled off when the stanchions on the one side were released. The ExTe bunks on one side were made of aluminium and on the folding side, they were
made of steel. The top chain was replaced by a much lighter strap. The new bunk weighed nearly 50 kg less than its predecessor. During the 1960s, ExTe System 144 was developed, which is the top-selling ExTe bunk of all time. The system is reliable, versatile and easy to transfer to the next rig when it is time to switch. System 144 was a big hit with hauliers right from the start. Demand for the bunk is still strong in Central Europe, where timber transports are frequently combined with other goods. Initially, System 144 consisted of traditional steel frames, with telescopic stanchions below and aluminium stanchions above. Those bunks were only designed for roundwood. But with the S-version, sawn timber could also be transported. System 144 was later supplemented with frames or loose sockets that could be installed on the flatbed so that the stanchions could easily be moved, based on the type of load. 1970s The ExTe bunk sparked the idea of changing the company’s legal name to ExTe Fabriks AB, in everyday language, ExTe. From a marketing perspective, it was a smart move. Output at the new facilities increased steadily. ExTe received a lot of attention in 1974-75 with the launch of the industry’s first timber bunk manufactured entirely of aluminium (except for the upper section of the telescopic stanchions, which were made of steel). It was an enormous success. ExTe had demonstrated that the company took the timber hauliers’ concerns and desire to have light and easy-to-operate bunks, seriously. One new feature, which also lowered the weight, was that the stanchions should not be released. All unloading from ExTe aluminium was done with a forklift. Now, it was no longer permitted to climb up on the load to tighten the top chains. The requirements on load lashing also became more stringent. ExTe then developed ExTe Matic, an electric hydraulic tensioner that also became a huge success. And, we’ve got many more innovations in mind for the future. What will timber bunks look like in the future? Will they even exist 100 years from now? We are certain that it’s time to rethink it all and come up with new, revolutionary innovations. And that’s precisely what ExTe is attempting to do! In the meantime, we continue solidifying our position as the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of safe load anchoring for timber transport. We offer a range of products that is undoubtedly the widest available on the market. ExTe Magazine| 19
Postage paid within Sweden
For a moment, look at Christmas through the eyes of a child. It’s a bright, sparkling time of the year, where generosity, delicious foods, aromas and love surround us. Jolly Santa, with his hearty laugh and twinkling eyes, too! So relax. Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones. Keep children’s dreams alive. Santa would want it that way! Our Christmas gift to you and all other timber hauliers is nearly as old as Santa himself. We’ve been creating transport solutions for timber hauliers for generations. Since 1898, in fact. And we will continue doing so. Let there be no doubts about that. From all of us here at ExTe, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Again this year, we support:
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